Motion-picture apparatus



Jan. 13, 1931. s STEIN MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Filed Dec. l8 1926 MIMMPatented Jan. 13 1931 OFFICE-- SAMUEL F. STEIN, or wrnnmmsroa'r,PENNSYLVANIA MOTION-PICTURE APPARATUS Application filed December 18,1926. Serial No. 155,719.

The object of my invention is to make possible the rendition of apictorial illustration of and impartation of information pertaining tothe progress of an event which is actually taking place and to give thepictorial illustration and furnish the information concurrently withsuch an event whereby the interest and thrill of the spectators can bemaintained. p

What I show in the drawings is merely for the purpose of disclosing somemechanism which will serve'the purpose of exemplifica- 'tion, orillustration and is not to be taken as a limitation to anyv particularinstrumentalities by which my invention may be practiced. Y

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation diagrammatic in parts, of one form ofapparatus broken away in parts for the practice of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing in detail the face side of the disc-formpicture carrier, with some associated parts used therewith;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in elevation and largely diagrammatic of themotor and circuit and switch arrangement concerned in the rotation ofthe carrier disc;

Fi 4 is a detail view of the motor reversing switch;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a connection for securing the picture carrierto the shaft by which the carrier is rotated, the carrier in this casebeing shown as formed of a plurality of face to face discs;

Fig. 6 is a detail view in section illustrating one arrangement ofsecuring the individual picture film sections to the carrier.

In what I now regard as the best procedure, taking the case of a dancerfor example, whose motions or movements are to be reproduced in motionpictures with the accompaniment of the appropriate music preferably onlyselected portions of the dance are photographed, and these portions areprinted or otherwise mounted in proper sequence on a carrier, which asshown in the drawings, is a disk, 10, on the side of which the pictures,11, are arranged in a circular series, so that by the revolution of thedisk, in a projecting machine, 12, the pictures, in succession, may

be projected on to the usual screen, 13, and

, simultaneously with such projection a phonograph, 14, will beoperated, having a record that contains the music appropriate to thedance steps exhibited on the screen. Obviously, since the pictured dancesteps and the rendered music will be in time, the spectator or auditorwill get as much enjoyment of the joint production as if the entirepicturization of the dance from start to finish should be produced onthe screen, instead of only a few, selected portions of the pictures ofthe dancer. The rotation of the disk will continue as long as the musicrecord runs, and of course, there will be many complete or repeatedrotations of the disk. v And to give variety, the disk may have itsrevolution reversed with the advantageous effects on the exhibition inshowing the dancers steps sometimes to the right, sometimes to the left,sometimes forward and sometimes backward, as the dancers steps, indancing, usually are. Either a reversible electric motor can be used torotate the disk or a suitable reversible clutch mechanism may beemployed by which 75 the direction of the revolution of the disk may bechanged.

' Still referrin to the caseof the dancer, should it be des1red to showhis poses or actions at the beginning and end of the dance, thepictures, 15, showing such poses, can be placed on the same disk,adjacent and concentric with the pictures, 11, and the projector lenstube may be adjusted to aline therewith, if the apparatus has a singlelens that is shiftable to the several positions required by the radialposition on the carrier of the set or group of pictures to be projected.To give variety to the dancers performance there may be repeatedalterations of the pictures of 90 the two sets, 11 and 15, at diflerentintervals and for any selected period of time.

Referring to what is shown in Fig. 1, the picture-carrier, 10, is shownkeyed upon a shaft, 16, which is adapted to be' revolved at 95 thedesired speed by appropriate connection with a motor, and supported inproper position for projection of the several concentric groups or setsof pictures, 11 and 15, as shown in Fig. 2 are three lenses, 17, 18 and19, the 1 0 lens, 17, being for projecting the outermost group ofpictures, 11, the lens, 18, being in position for projecting theinnermost group, 15, and the lens, 19, for projecting the middle groupofpictures, 15, and the three lenses being mounted ninety degrees apartupon the box-like frame, 20, within which is situated the carrier discshaft, 16, The frame, 20, is mounted for movement so that any one of thelenses, 17, 18 and 19, at a time may be focused on the screen and becomethe acting projecting lens-to project the group of pictures to which itis assigned upon the screen,

p swinging the frame,

and occupy that position,

13. The frame, 20,

is pivoted at its bottom upon a horizontal pivot, 21, so that by v 20,vertically, the lens 17, or the lens, 19, may be focused upon theScreen, 13, and said frame, 20, is mounted upon a vertical pivot, 22, ina supporting base, 23, so that the frame may be swung horizontally tofocus the lens, 18, upon the screen, as I preferably arrange it, themovements of the frame, or another theaotive projecting lens, effect thecutting of the lamp of the lens that is to. become active into circuit,and the cutting out of circuit of the lamp of the other two lenses, sothat no "attention on the part of the operator is required to out thelamps into and out of circuit. Preferably the normal position of theframe, 20, is to place the lens, 17 into focusing position and to closeits lamp circuit so that that lens, 17, will be nor mally the activelens, and I so mount the frame, 20, on the horizontal pivot, 21, thatautomatically and normally it will swing to and when it,is in thatposition, a pair of contacts, 24:, that form a switch in the circuit inthe lamp of lens, 17 will touohand thereby the circuit through such lampbe closed. By the upward swingthe lens is 'cut into circuit. Forswinging the frame, 20, horizontally, inxorderto render the lens, 18,the active pro ecting lens, I

similarly provide a magnet, 28, in a circuit.

controlled by a switch, 29. The magnet, 28, when energized attracts anarmature, 30, that projects horizontally from the frame, 20, and as ineach of the other cases when the lens, 18, becomes the active projectinglens that circuit' is closed through its lamp. As the frame, 20, whenswung horizontally is in the normal position as far as the closing ofthe circuit t rough the contacts, 24, is concerned,

I include in the circuit, which includes the 20, to render one lens.

ness of the carrier,

, and switches for the two lenses, 18 and 19.

When the magnet, 28, which is used to swing the frame, 20, isdeenergized, the frame, 20, is swung to and yieldingly held in thenormal position for rendering the lens, 17 the active projecting lens,by a coil spring, 35, which at one end is connected to a horizontalextension of the vertical pivot, 22, and at the other end to thesupporting base, 23.

Since it is desirable in the interests of a clear projection to set thetube of lens, 18, with its axis at an angle, it is desirable also in theinterests of .clearness to have the portions of the film which containthe pictures which are to be projected by that lens, set at an angle inthe carrier disc, 10, which will make the plane of such portions of thefilms at right angles to the lens axis at the time the film portions arein alinement with the lens, as illustrated in Fig. 6, where a picturecarrying film portion, 36, 1s shown set obliquely in an opening, 37, inthe carrier, 10, and as the thick- 10, is considerably greater than thethickness of the film, the film portion, 36, is contained wholly withinthe plane of the opposite side of the disc, 10. Instead of setting thefilm portion, 36, at an angle it will be evident that by imparting avertical swing to the frame, 20, at the same time it is movedhorizontally, the lens, 18, need not be set at an angle, and that theplane of the film at right angles to the lensaxis may be maintained forproper projection upon the screen, 13.

A simple and vary eflicient gearing for imparting the necessary step bystep or intermittent rotation to the picture carrier disc 10, isindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and comprises a wheel or disc, 38,upon the shaft, 16, with a continuous circular circumference and adisc,39,whioh is adriven disc,whose periphery is notched or recessed toprovide a series'of separated portions or segments, 40, that havefrictional peripheral contact with the disc, 38, and thereby rotate thelatter so long as such projections or segments, 40, are in contact withthe disc, 38. It will be seen that,

rotated in opposite drawings one way by which that can be done,

which is by means of a detachable connection,

' so that there may be substitution of one carrier disc for another andthe connection shown is one especiall suitable, when the carrier discinstead of being made of a single member which carries all of thecircular groups of pictures, is made of several memers of differentdiameters placed face to face and each carrying a circular group ofpictures, the several members, which, of course, are of disc formexposing one beyond the circumference of the other, the group ofpictures carried thereby. Referring particu-r larly to Fig. 5, there arethree carrier disc members, 100, placed face to face upon the shaft, 16,the members having central holes of a diameter to receive the end of theshaft, and the innermost disc being en aged by one end of a coil spring,41, whose other end is engaged by a shoulder, 42, on the shaft, so thatthe spring exerts an outward pressure against the members, 100.Resisting that pressure by engaging the outer face of the outer discmember, 100, is a latch device, 43, that includes a stem which extendsaxially within the interior of shaft, 16, Which is made hollow ortubular, and one or more radial projections, 44, on the outer end of thestem which project beyond the circular hole in the outer disc member,100, and said latch device, 43, is pulled inward by a coil spring, 45,

fastened at one end to the latch stem and at the other end to a block,46,-secured preferably adjustably within the shaft, 16, to enable thetension of the spring to be varied.-

The spring, 45, is stronger than the spring,

' 41, so that it resists the outward thrust of the spring, 41, upon thecarrier. The carrier disc or discs, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, has aradial notch, 47, openingoutward from the central hole in the carrier ofa size to permit the passage of the radial lug, 44, when inalinement-therewith, but b the turning of the radial lug, 44, it may beplaced out of alinement' with said notch, 47, and engage a solid surfaceon the carrier ad'acent the central hole. The radial lu 44, is carriedby a disc, 48, which by a hea ed pin or screw, 49,

. is pivoted to the stem of latch, 43. Preferably, as shown in thedrawings, two lugs, 44, are employed arranged diametrically opposite, sothat a balanced or equalized pressure is exerted by thelugs against theouter face of the outer carrier member disc, 100.

In Fig. 3 is shown rather diagrammatically, mechanism which may be usedto run and to control the revolution of the carrier disc.

as shown in Fig. 3, the electric motor, 50, is

connected by belt and pulley gearingwith a shaft, 51, upon which isfixed the drivin disc,

39, shown in Fig. 2,so that said sha t and disc are continuouslyrotated. Secured to said shaft, 51, is a disc, 52, and it is so securedby one or more set screws, 52, may be rotatably adjusted on the shaft,51, for a reason presently to appear. The disc, 52, has a radial notch,54, on its periphery which when opposite a lug or rojection, 55, on a1ever,'56, may be entered y said pro ection, and thereby the rotation ofthe 53, so that the disc,

disc, 52, stopped. It will be evident that by also used to actuate aswitch, 57, in the motor circuit, 58, so that when the lever moves or ofthe rotation of the disc, 52,"

is moved to throw its stop projection, 55, into i the notch, 54, theswitch, 57 will open, and thus the motor'circuit be broken and the motordeprived of power. And when the lever projection, 55, is moved out ofthe notch, 54, to release the disc, 52, the lever closes the switch, 57,and current is again supplied to the motor. When the projection, 55, isout of the notch, 54, the projection, 55, is adapted to press lightlyagainst the periphery of the disc, 52, being caused to do so by a coilspring, 59, acting on the lever, and in order to reduce friction of theprojection, 55, on the disc, 52, the projection, 55, may carry or be inthe form of an anti-friction roller. The motor, 50, is a reversible one,and in the motor circuit is a reversing switch, 60, and

that switch when in each of its two circuit closing positions engages apush switch, 61,

in the motor-controlling circuit, and in that circuit is anelectro-magnet, 62, which when energized moves the stop lever, 56, tocarry its projection, '55, out of the notch, 54, of the disc, 52, and"to hold it in that position so long as the circuit is closed throughone of the push switches, 61, or the other. The reversing switch, 60,when moved to break the lever towards and againstthe disc, 52. Of-

course, as soon as the circuit is closed again through the magnet, 62,by the swinging of the switch, 60, the stop lever, 56, is pulled out ofinterlocking engagement with the disc, 52, and it closes the motorcircuit through adapted to swing the lever, 56, in the same direction inwhich it is pulled by the magnet, 62, when energized.

The motor circuit is also under the control of the phonograph stoplever, 64, which as shown in Fig. 3, is of the well known type thatengages the periphery of the phonograph turntable, 65. A switch, 66, inthe magnet circuit is arranged to be closed by the stop lever, 64:, whenit is moved out of contact with'the turntable, 65, so thatsimultaneously with the release of the phonograph turntable the motorcircuit is closed, and the motor supplied with energy. he magnet circuitalso includes a hand switch, 67, to open and close it when desired.

As shown in Fig. 1, the screen, 13, may be formed upon or carried by thehinged cover, 75, of the phonograph, 14, so that the provision of thescreen as a separate thing involving special supports may beunnecessary. The screen surface may be a permanent part provided whichis of the cover, 75, or to enable the substitution of screens withvaried surroundings or adornments or decorations, the screen may be adetachable screen or plate, which would thus allow interchangeability.indeed there could be a permanent screen surface on the cover, and anumber of removable screens placed one upon the other on the cover,which would be a convenient way of storing them, the screens beingsimply shifted around to bring, the one desired to be used.

I have referred to the matter of pictures of a dancer to illustrate andexemplify the practice of my invention. As another exemplification of itI refer to the use of my invention by way of giving pictorialillustration of and information as to the progress of a horse race.Thus, in a horse race the important events in a particular race could bereproduced, as for example, the start, showing the relative positions ofthe horses, the finish, also showing the relative positions of thehorses, and the relative positions of the horses between start andfinish. Thus, each group of pictures could be associated with oridentified with a particular horse known to be running in the race, andby changing the pictures projected from time to time during the race,

the relative movements of the horses so identified could be shown at apoint remote or distant from the race track. It would be necessarymerely for some one at the race track watching the event to signal theoperator at the projecting machine the relative positions of the orses.The pictures, of course, need not be of the very horses competing in therace, and of course, under the circumstances they could not be picturesof the ac tual race, but previously taken, and prepared pictures couldvery satisfactorily be utilized,

- so that persons interested at places remote from the race track couldhave pictorially or visually shown to them the movements of the horses.Should it be desired to exhibit the pictures of the horses actuallycompeting in the event, pictures taken of horses in previous eventscould be used, or for the purpose of providing the pictures, the horsescould be run through a race especially staged for the purpose. By myinvention it Will be seen that it is ossible in the projection of thepictures to exhibit the pictures in a different order, to show adifferent result occurring, or happen ing in the actual performance.Thus, to take the case of a horse race, assuming that two horses A and Bstart neck and neck, and later, say at the quarter stretch, A is aheadof B, and still later they are neck and neck, and finally B crosses theline first, the pictures could be exhibited in an order which would showA apparently leading in the quarter stretch, and while in the finalresult B would cross the line first there could be pictured a relativeposition of the horses different from that actually the case in therace. The interest and thrill in the performance could be maintained byshowing the intermediate stages between beginning and ending the race,in which case at least three groups of pitcures would be required, thefirst for example, showing the horses starting off together, the secondshowing A ahead of B, and the third showing B ahead of A, so that therewould be no violent or sudden transition from one incident or event tothe other.

Referring to the case of the horse race, by way of example it will beevident that by suitable electrical devices the man at the race trackcan cause the desired operation of the distantly located apparatus forprojecting the pictures of the race. It will also be evi dent that bytelegraph, for example, he may i report to a distant operator the eventsof the race as it proceeds, and that the record of the events may beused for the projection of the pictures at subsequent time or times, sothat as often as might be desired there could be an accurate andcomplete reproduction of the events of the race, as they transpired.

For the purpose of adding to the interest of the exhibition it may notbe desired to stop the exhibition at a predetermined point, and in thatcase a to the disc, 68, which would close the notch thereincorresponding to the notch, 54:, as for example, a slidable plate. 76,secured to the side of the disc, so that the projection corre spondingto the projection, 55, of lever. 56, of Fig. 3 could not enter thenotch. Such a notch closed plate could be provided with some key-lockdevice to prevent anybody tampering with the machine, so as to convertit from one kind of action to the other.

It will be evident that by my invention great saving in the cost ofproduction can be secured in the making of a picture record comparedwith the procedure which involves device would be applied avaaeosinventibn it desired to add variety to the motions of the pictures, asdescribed above, without considering the advantages which the diskaflords for continuous display of the pictures without stoppage whichreversal would entail. Of course, as above pointed out, the reversal ofrevolution of the disk has important advantages.

Certain features oil construction of the apparatus and the combinationof sound and pictures contained in this application are not claimedherein, but are claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 158,253,filed December 31, W26,

ll claim:

l. The combination of a picture projecting I machine, a disk havin anotch operatively connected with the mac ine, an electric motor to drivethe disk, a stop device adapted to bear against said disk and tointerlock therewith at the notch and movable towards and from the sameand a motor switch in position to be operated by said step device forand stopping of said electric motor, and a magnet for moving said stopdevice from said dis 3. The combination of a picture projecting machine,a disk having a notch operatively connected with the machine, anelectric motor to drive the disk, a stop device adapted to bear againstsaid disk and to interlock therewith at the notch and movable towardsand from the i r;e,a motor switch in position to be operated by saidstop device for starting and stopping of said electric motor, and

' means to render said stop device inoperative.

d. In motion picture projecting apparatus, the combination of mechanismfor simultaneously moving a plurality of sets of motion pictures all ofwhich pertain to the same event, each of the respective sets exhibitingdiflerent movements which characterize the event, all sets constitutinga unit for exhibiting a unitary event, and means for selectivelyprojecting the respective sets in any desired order substantially on thesame image receiving surface as a continuous exhibition of the relatedmovements which characterize said unitary event.

5. ln motion picture projecting apparatus, the combination of mechanismfor simultaneously movinga plurality of sets of motion pictures all ofwhich pertain to the same event, each or the respective sets exhibitingdifierent movements which characterize the event, all sets constitutinga unit for exhibiting a unitary event and means for selectivelyprojecting the respective sets in any desired order substantially on thesame image receiving surface as a continuous exhibition of the relatedmovements which characterize said unitary event, and adjustable meansfor causing the display of a selected one oi the pictures when theprojecting movement of the pictures stops.

6. in motion picture projecting apparatus, the combination of mechanismfor simultaneously moving a plurality of sets of motion pictures all ofwhich pertain to the same event, each or the respective sets exhibitingdifierent movements which characterize the event, all sets constitutinga unit for exhibiting a unitary event, diderent lenses for the difierentsets each set having its own lamp and means tor selectively projectingthe respective sets in any desired order substantially on the same imagereceiving surface as a continuous exhibition of the related movementswhich characterize said unitary event.

7; In motion picture projecting apparatus, the combination of mechanismfor simultaneously moving a plurality of sets of motion pictures, all ofwhich pertain to the same event, each of the respective sets exhibitingdiflerent movements which characterize the event, all sets constitutinga unit for exhibiting a unitary event, difierent lenses for thedifierent sets, each set having its own lamp, and means comprising aplurality of switches for projecting the respective sets in any desiredorder substantially on the same image receiving surface as a continuousexhibition of the related movements which characterize said unitaryevent,

In testimony whereof I hereunto afix my signature.

SAMUEL F. STEIN.

no Y

